The use of whole wheat grain in feeding of broiler chickens

Abstract

An experiment has been conducted to determine the effectiveness of growing broiler chickens when whole wheat grain has been included in the compound feed. The purpose of the research was to develop an appropriate scheme and dose for feeding whole wheat grain depending on the age of broilers, while observing the normative content of metabolic energy and nutrients in the diets, and to determine the economic effectiveness of rearing of broilers. To determine the effectiveness, data on live weight, growth rate, livability, uniformity of broiler population by live weight and variability of live weight of chickens have been studied. In the course of the work, the livability, average daily gain, feed conversion, homogeneity and variability coefficients, and the productivity index have been calculated. An increase in the live weight of broilers, as well as the rate of growth in pre-slaughter age when using whole grains in poultry diets, as well as a decrease in feed consumption per unit of live weight gain has been revealed. In conclusion, the economic effectiveness of broiler meat production has determined when whole grain has been included in diets. The use of whole wheat grain as an additive to the main diet in broiler feeding allowed to increase profits and increase the level of profitability. It has been found as a result of research that it is advisable to add whole wheat grain to the main diet for broilers at the age of 8–14 days in an amount of 5 % of the feed weight, at the age of 15–21 days – 15 %, at the age of 22–28 days – 20 %, at the age of 21–29 days – 30 % of grain without reducing the overall nutritional value of the diet.